Two large fires, one at a shopping mall and the other at a temple, were responsible for 92 deaths and approximately 70 injures on Sunday, February 15. The causes of the two blazes remain under investigation. These fires have come at a time when the Chinese government is being criticized for not strictly enforcing construction safety rules and regulations.

A glass roof over a pool at the Transvaal water park in Moscow collapsed on Sunday, February 15, killing at least 26 people inside. Fifteen others are still missing, and although rescuers continue to search, hope for finding them is fading. The collapse was caused by one of the support columns giving way, setting off a chain reaction culminating in the collapse of the domed roof. It is believed that the column collapse was the result of poor construction standards, though the possibility of an explosion has not yet been ruled out.

Haitian rebels, led by a member of a previous dictatorship, seized control of the city of Hinche on Monday, February 16. President Jean-Bertrand Aristide called for "technical assistance" in putting down the revolt, and Prime Minister Yvon Neptune asked the international community to show "it really wants peace and stability in Haiti." The UN has announced its plans to send a humanitarian team to study the crisis, and France is considering the possibility of sending peacekeepers from nearby Caribbean territories. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said "there is frankly no enthusiasm" for sending peacekeepers to Haiti, and the US ambassador to Haiti, James Foley, called on Haitian leaders to resolve the conflict through negotiations. More than 50 people have been killed in the fighting so far.

Outbreaks of the 'bird flu' were reported in Japan on Monday, February 16. The flu, which has been responsible for at least 20 human deaths in Vietnam and Thailand, may be something "that the sector has to learn to live with," according to the director of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization's animal health department. World Health Organization spokesman Peter Cordingley said that to declare victory over the virus too soon was to "risk a recurrence every flu season."

India and Pakistan have agreed to an aggressive schedule for peace talks concerning a number of issues, most notably the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir and the countries' nuclear arsenals. The talks, announced on Tuesday, February 17, will take place following the Indian elections in April and will run until August. These countries have fought three wars since 1947, and nearly fought the first war between nuclear powers in 2002.